More than 6,000 girls aged 14-15 have received the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine so far in Raipur city and other blocks of the district. The Raipur health department launched the HPV vaccination drive on March 16 at the district hospital and has since expanded it to community health centers. This initiative forms part of a nationwide program launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Ajmer, Rajasthan, on February 28. It aims to curb cervical cancer, the second most common cancer among women and girls in State after breast cancer. In Raipur, the health department is partnering with social organisations and the National Service Scheme (NSS) units from universities and colleges to promote the drive and urge parents to bring eligible daughters for vaccination.

 

The campaign has also reached rural areas, where community health centers are administering doses with support from gram panchayats to identify girls aged 14-15. Dr Shweta Sonwani, the district nodal officer for HPV vaccination, said about one-fourth of eligible girls have been covered so far. “We aim to vaccinate over 60% before March 31,” she added. Dr Mithilesh Choudhary, the Chief Medical and Health Officer, noted strong public awareness: “People are proactively contacting us for vaccination center details and locations.”